Charges Filed In Texas College Campus Shooting That Left 3 Injured

State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, has filed a bill that would allow students, faculty and staff members with concealed handgun licenses to carry firearms on campus for personal protection. The bill would bar colleges or universities from circumventing the act by imposing bans or penalties on students or employees who are carrying firearms legally, Birdwell said. The legislation ensures that private schools may establish rules regarding concealed handgun license holders on campus, Birdwell said. A section of the bill says private or independent institutions may establish rules prohibiting CHL holders from carrying handguns on campus premises owned or leased and operated by the institution.

"For me, this isn't just about the firearm," Birdwell said. "It's about trusting citizens with their God-given, constitutional rights." "I'm proud to be filing this bill with the support of so many of my colleagues, as well as the full backing of the National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association."

“This is a piece of legislation I have consistently heard about from the citizens I was elected to serve, and I look forward to seeing it enacted."

A similar measure was defeated in 2011 in the Texas House.

HOUSTON (January 23, 2013)—Carlton Berry, 22, was booked Wednesday, charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in a shooting on the campus of a Houston-area community college in which he and two other men were wounded.

His bond was set at $60,000.

The campus of North Harris Campus of Lone Star Community College was locked down Tuesday after the shooting, which happened during an altercation on the campus early Tuesday afternoon between two people, at least one of whom was a student, Harris County Sheriff’s Maj. Armando Tello said during a late afternoon news conference.

Both people involved in the altercation were wounded, Tello said.

A college maintenance worker who was caught in the crossfire was also wounded and a female student was taken to a hospital for medical reasons, Tello said.

Authorities Wednesday identified the second man involved in the altercation as Jody Neal, 25.

He did not have a weapon and no charges are expected, authorities said.

The campus reopened late Tuesday afternoon, and classes resumed Wednesday.

Witnesses told a KHOU reporter two men were arguing when one of them pulled a gun and opened fire at around 12:30 p.m. on the campus in the 2700 block of West W. Thorne Drive, near Bush Intercontinental Airport about 20 miles north of downtown Houston.

One student said she and other people dove under their desks when they heard the gunshots.

"I saw two dudes basically get into an altercation and the dude that shot, he basically got angry and started shooting the other guy," said Mobley. "A lot of people heard a lot of shots," she told the TV station.

Mobley said the gunman had the firearm concealed in his clothes.

"Basically, I saw the dude that shot him and as soon as I heard the bullets flying and the gun being fired off, then everyone started running and it was a hint for me to start running as well," Mobley said.

Students were evacuated form the campus after the shooting and an alert was issued on the college's website telling students and faculty on campus to take immediate shelter or avoid the campus.

Several nearby schools in the Aldine ISD district were placed on lock-down including Nimitz High School, Nimitz 9th Grade Campus, Parker Intermediate and Dunn Clifford Elementary.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a statement after the shooting saying that it underscores the importance of having safety plans in place.

“All Texas schools must be places of safety and learning. Lawless shootings on campuses will not be tolerated and should meet swift justice. Texas will do all it can to make the school environment safe for students, teachers and administrators,” he said.

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